Johan Mjallby determined to make Celtic winners after linking up with Neil Lennon

Johan Mjallby has vowed to help Neil Lennon restore Celtic's winning mentality after confirming he had agreed to assist the club's interim manager.

Former Parkhead skippers Lennon and Mjallby will take charge of the team until a permanent successor is found for Tony Mowbray, whose ill-fated nine-month reign came to an end this week.

Mjallby, 39, admits it is too close to the end of the season to make drastic tactical changes at Parkhead but believes it is possible to salvage some pride from a miserable campaign.

He said in the Scottish Sun: 'The first thing we must do is get back the winning mentality we had when I was a Celtic player. The players need to know they have to wear that Celtic jersey with pride. They need to show the fans they are up to the job.

'It's been a bad spell for the club recently and maybe they need their confidence back.

'The club can still win a trophy before the end of the season. We don't have much time, so it may be difficult to change the team tactically. But hopefully we can put some spirit back into the side. Once we do that, it's up to the players to perform.

'The team must start playing well again - and, most importantly, winning.'

Mowbray lost his job in the wake of Wednesday night's 4-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League thrashing at St Mirren, Celtic's heaviest league defeat outside an Old Firm derby for 30 years.

Mjallby discovered the result while surfing the internet in his native Sweden.

Double trouble: Andy Dorman (left) scored twice for St Mirren as their 4-0 victory signalled the end of the road for Celtic manager Mowbray (below)

He said: 'I'll be honest, I was shocked. That's not a scoreline you're used to when you support Celtic, is it? I just didn't think for one second it would lead to me going back to Scotland.

'It's exciting to be on my way back to Celtic, but I'm definitely still in shock.

'Neil phoned me around 3pm and asked me if I wanted to help him do a job for the club. We've always kept in touch since we stopped playing together and it's something we've talked about in the past - if he got a job in management he'd give me a call.

'But it was still a major surprise when my phone rang. Neil explained the situation and it was an easy decision for me to say yes. Even if I wanted to say no, Neil wouldn't have let me. There was absolutely no chance of that.

'I only had a few seconds to decide, but it was a simple decision. I just told Neil I was on my way, dropped everything and started making arrangements.

'How could I turn this down? Celtic are a team which played such a big part on my career. In my eyes, I only played for two clubs and that's AIK and Celtic.'

Meanwhile, Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee has distanced himself from the Celtic vacancy.

McGhee, who was interviewed during the search for Gordon Strachan's successor before taking the Dons job, said in the Press and Journal: 'I know it was an issue in the summer but things have changed since then.

'I am not even giving it a second's thought. I have a big job at Aberdeen and all I am concerned about is finishing the season as best we can and preparing for the start of next season.'